If you’re like me and you love the repetitive challenge of doing the same little thing over and over again until you get it absolutely perfect, you’ll find a lot to love in DustForce. The leaderboards and available video replays will keep you constantly in search of taking off the nanoseconds here and there, and local multiplayer is available for those who want to test their skills against some friends. The very minor problems in the previous paragraph should in no way stop you from picking up this little indie gem.

Dustforce's high-flying core is a mix of nearly unreasonable demands and an aesthetic that basically pats you on the back, tells you to take a deep breath, and says, "No, you can do this. I believe in you." It's -- in all likelihood -- the most stylish thing ever to prominently feature janitors, but it definitely doesn't lack in substance. So move over, rotund Italian plumbers of the world. There's a new blue-collar hop 'n' bop hero on the block.

As I said at the beginning of this review, I have played a lot of challenging games in my time, but Dustforce is one that has asked more of me as a gamer than any other in recent memory. It asked me to refine my skills like no other, to sharpen my reflexes and timing until they were absolutely perfect. After all of that hard work, after all that time spent retrying and perfecting your cleaning run, your reward is the chance to do it all over again, but this time on an even harder level. If you’re looking for a challenge, look no further than this platforming gem.

Ultimately, I tend to look for games with deep plot lines or intense strategy requirements. Dustforce is none of those things, but even so I found myself wanting to play it in place of those more complicated games. It may not bring you great mental challenge or bestow heavy weapons, but it does deliver a massively enjoyable game. Between the cute critters and the awesome music, Dustforce is a great source of good, clean(ing) fun.

It is this tone of music that strikes such a contrast with the realities of the game. Dustforce is a tough, sometimes frustrating game. The platforming demands a lot of deft action on your part, but the rewards and sense of accomplishment makes the trial and error gameplay worth the effort. The mountain of content and constant drive to improve those ratings ensure there’s plenty of entertainment in store, while the user-level catalog guarantees you’ll never be without something new to play. Dustforce will provide hours of enjoyment and the purchase is entirely justified at the low $10 price.

I’m not sure I’ll ever be that good at Dustforce. I’m probably in the bottom half of the leaderboards for every level. I’ll keep playing though. For the music, for the atmosphere and for the sheer joy of being a cleaning ninja, Dustrforce has me hooked. Who knows, maybe if I keep playing I might even get good at it one day!

Those with an addiction to high scores will love the many hours they spend smashing themselves repeatedly against the levels' pitiless design. And those who aren't up for the challenge? Dustforce will just take them to the cleaners.

Dustforce easily merits the low, $10 barrier to entry. Some better in-game explanation concerning Dustforce’s content and mechanics would really help, but this addictive platformer succeeds nonetheless. The artful way the characters’ abilities allow you to move through the environment are entrancing, and the meticulously crafted levels create moments that made me look and feel awesome.

There are a handful of other, smaller issues that drag Dustforce down from greatness. On one computer, the game performed without issue, while on another similar setup, it suffered major performance dips when traversing the overworld and would infrequently crash on specific stages. There is also a mysterious video tab in the options menu that has been left completely blank. Being able to perform the basic functions of resizing the game or playing in a window would be a welcome addition. While these issues do reveal some rough edges, the game proper is left largely unaffected. Sliding through the world of Dustforce is a fun, free-flowing experience, and it's easy to get hooked on it.

Dustforce is a decent game with great visuals and an addictive soundtrack. Sadly, its platformer gameplay isn’t that polished so you’ll find yourself cursing at the screen when failing that dreaded double jump or when you miss tiny bits of garbage. If you enjoyed lessons in patience and muscle memory like Super Meat Boy, then you might find a decent challenge in Dustforce. If you don’t like getting annoyed, however, you might want to steer clear of it.